Obscure PC Engine hardware

[rcantor77]

Has anyone seen this controller before...



Just picked it up... it has a built in multitap, a 4/8 switch and it is programmable. Although I don't have instructions atm so still trying to figure that bit out...

This is for pc-98.  You plug it into your computer's keyboard port and then plug your keyboard into the other side of the controller plug.  Then you can program the keys on the gamepad to any keyboard keys.  I really do want to pick one of those up for my PC-9821CE. 

OK, well that would account for the slight interference that I get...

Has anyone got the pinout info for a PC-98 controller port so I can see if there are any differences..?

[SephirothTNH]

OK, well that would account for the slight interference that I get...

Has anyone got the pinout info for a PC-98 controller port so I can see if there are any differences..?

So this thing actually works on a pc engine?  I'm shocked.  Did the PcE ever have a keyboard?  Most gamepads plugged into the mouse port or the sound card for pc-98.  But the pj-01 plugged into the keyboard port.

1. RST
2. GND
3. RDY
4. RxD
5. RTY
8. +5v

Here are some pics of my friends.  I don't think he would mind me linking them.


http://retro-type.com/PC98/pc-98-pj-01-contoller.jpg
http://retro-type.com/PC98/pc-98-pj-01-contoller-box-back.jpg
http://retro-type.com/PC98/pc-98-pj-01-manual.jpg

[esteban]

I love quirky items like this one, even if it is for the PC-98.

[rcantor77]

OK, well that would account for the slight interference that I get...

Has anyone got the pinout info for a PC-98 controller port so I can see if there are any differences..?

So this thing actually works on a pc engine?  I'm shocked.  Did the PcE ever have a keyboard?  Most gamepads plugged into the mouse port or the sound card for pc-98.  But the pj-01 plugged into the keyboard port.

1. RST
2. GND
3. RDY
4. RxD
5. RTY
8. +5v

Here are some pics of my friends.  I don't think he would mind me linking them.
http://retro-type.com/PC98/pc-98-pj-01-contoller.jpg
http://retro-type.com/PC98/pc-98-pj-01-contoller-box-back.jpg
http://retro-type.com/PC98/pc-98-pj-01-manual.jpg

Hmm, so there is no way this will work properly on a PC Engine then... well not without knocking up a converter of some kind. Although the controller chips inside might be very different and it would need a lot of components to get it working. I wish I was good with this sort of thing...

[dangdang]

Recent relevant gets from asia.

[NecroPhile]

Neat clones, but I got two questions:

Is that a two player tap passthrough (big black box) on the controllers cable?

Is the booty huey's case a cassette tape case?

[dangdang]

Neat clones, but I got two questions:

Is that a two player tap passthrough (big black box) on the controllers cable?

Is the booty huey's case a cassette tape case?

1) Yep, you can actually see it mentions "2PLAY" on the back of the box in Japanese.
2) Sort of. Its basically the same case that some fc carts come in. A bit thicker and bulkier than the cassette tape cases that you see in the US.

[esteban]

Hot damn!

Some crazy neat items.

[elmer]

Those are incredibly cool to see! 

Thanks for sharing the photos. 

[CrackTiger]

I have the Twin Commander pad. Often when people complain about the TG-16 not having two controller ports, this is what I say would have been a good pack-in solution.

[rcantor77]

That's some cool stuff there...

I have that PC Twin Commander (but only loose unfortunately)... strange that they made it with two different controller styles.



And i've never seen that AEBS Twin Controller.. that is nice to see. I have the 2-player Multitap that looks similar but never seen it with pads connected.

Thanks for sharing...

[esteban]

WAIT! How is  SLOW MOTION activated via the Turbo Switch for Button I?



I didn't even realize this feature was included when I first looked at the photos.

Somebody explain the process to me. Obviously, I can see "ON" below "OFF" ...but is it referring to a hidden switch on the side? Or the Turbo switch itself?

Much confusion.

[dangdang]

Sorry didn't see your question here. Here's the back that has the slow motion switch. The 2-controller rig has a similar set up.

[SuperDeadite]

Not sure how obscure this is anymore, but for all the n00bs, here's my old video using the Micomsoft/Sharp Cyberstick Analog HOTAS controller with the PCE.

[esteban]

Sorry didn't see your question here. Here's the back that has the slow motion switch. The 2-controller rig has a similar set up.

AHA!

Ok, that clears things up for me. Thank you taking the time to post that photo.

[rcantor77]

Found this AV Booster on eBay last month, finally got delivered the other day... never seen it before.

[SignOfZeta]

I wonder what the story is with that. The box is in Japanese yet it's a PAL unit. Given that Japan never used PAL in any capacity and the only place where anyone would make packaging on it with Japanese text is Japan itself, it's an odd pairing.

Did "Kindo" make an NTSC ver of the unit with the same box design maybe?

[shubibiman]

Isn't that the booster that came with the "UK version" of the PC Engine ?

[ccovell]

That's most likely made for the Hong Kong market, where lots of PC-Engines / Famicoms were sold on export.

[Otaking]

That's most likely made for the Hong Kong market, where lots of PC-Engines / Famicoms were sold on export.

+1

Hong Kong was under British rule and used our PAL TV standard.
Because of our connection with the country most of the imported PC Engine and Mega Drive stuff came via Hong Kong back in the day.

[imparanoic]

That's most likely made for the Hong Kong market, where lots of PC-Engines / Famicoms were sold on export.

+1

Hong Kong was under British rule and used our PAL TV standard.
Because of our connection with the country most of the imported PC Engine and Mega Drive stuff came via Hong Kong back in the day.

yes, tv terrestial tv in Hk is pal, but most tv since the early 90s or even late 80's are multi standard tv which accepts ntsc via composite video or s video, a few even scart ( most likely sony during mid 90s) which could be rgb enabled but this quite rare

[imparanoic]

I found these two joysticks on ebay two years ago.  Never seen them before or since then.  They are brand new, but the boxes on both show some shelf wear.  They say PC Engine on them and have the Japanese style controller plug, but the company address is based in NY.

Anyone seen these before?

How much did you pay for this joystick?

[dave_van_damn]

Here's something that I picked up in the 90s. I don't know if it's rare or not, but I've never seen another one ...

Arcade Stick: Multi-System Joystick

Compatible With These Systems Worldwide:

• Sega Genesis
• Sega MegaDrive
• Super Nintendo
• Super Famicom
• Turbo Duo
• PC Engine
• Neo Geo

Literally threw one of those out int he trash yesterday. A dude in Hong Kong was giving it away for free but when I got it it only had Megadrive connections and was fucking gross.

[imparanoic]

Here's something that I picked up in the 90s. I don't know if it's rare or not, but I've never seen another one ...

Arcade Stick: Multi-System Joystick

Compatible With These Systems Worldwide:

• Sega Genesis
• Sega MegaDrive
• Super Nintendo
• Super Famicom
• Turbo Duo
• PC Engine
• Neo Geo

Literally threw one of those out int he trash yesterday. A dude in Hong Kong was giving it away for free but when I got it it only had Megadrive connections and was fucking gross.

these joysticks < same with city boy and appollo are poorly designed and not durable at all, cheap at the time,  doubt there last more than a few years, let alone 20 years

[dave_van_damn]

Here's something that I picked up in the 90s. I don't know if it's rare or not, but I've never seen another one ...

Arcade Stick: Multi-System Joystick

Compatible With These Systems Worldwide:

• Sega Genesis
• Sega MegaDrive
• Super Nintendo
• Super Famicom
• Turbo Duo
• PC Engine
• Neo Geo

Literally threw one of those out int he trash yesterday. A dude in Hong Kong was giving it away for free but when I got it it only had Megadrive connections and was fucking gross.

these joysticks < same with city boy and appollo are poorly designed and not durable at all, cheap at the time,  doubt there last more than a few years, let alone 20 years

The joystick was terrible. The guy listed it on a Facebook group and my friend helped me get it. One look at it and you could tell it was broken!